Coupling.



W. S. REED.

COUPLING. APPLICATION rum) JAN. 24, 190B.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.-

lll lilllll IIIIIINIIII HIJIII W. S. REED.

COUPLING. AAAAAAAA 191v FFFF 1) JAN. 222222 a.

Patented Jan, 19, 1909. j

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAMS. REED, OF LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO W. S. REEDCOUP COMPANY, A CORPQRATION OF MAINE.

COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1 909.

Tc all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. REED, a

. citizen of the United States, residing at Leotion is to provide anovel coupling of that type which ermits the two members of the couplingto e coupled together by a relative longitudinal movement between themand without the'necessity of screwing one onto the othe Inmyimproved'coupling one of the coupling members is provided with aplurality of body mem view of the form-of spring employed in con-qivoted jaws which are situated in recesses Formed in said couplingmemberand the exposed faces of which are shaped to grip and aveengagement with the screw threads of the complemental coupling member.These pivoted aws are so arranged that they yield ackwardly -therebyfreely permitting the -two coupling members to be coupled b% a .movementlongitudinally of each other ut any tendency to separate the memberscauses the-jaws to firmly bite or grip the otherflmember and thusthe'coupling members are securely held together.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention these pivoted jaws arearranged in a coupling member which-is adaptedv to be screw-threadedtoone of the members of an ordinarycoupling, thus converting said memberinto 'a quick-acting coupling member with which the other member of theregular coupling can be connected simply by a longitu inal movement.

I will first describe one embodiment of my invention and then point outthe novel features thereof in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view of my improved coupling showing onemember of the coupling in section; Fig. 2 is a section on line x.v,Fig.1 ;-Fig. 3 is a pers ective view of the main bod of said mem er'with the parts removed; ofthe removable ring hereinafter described; Fig.5 is a artial side elevation of the main ber shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 isa ig. 4 is aperspective viewable springs whic nection with the pivotedjaw; Fig. 7 is aperspective viewof one of the jaws.

My im rovement may be embodied either in the ma e member or in thefemale member of a coupling. In the drawings,.however, I have shown itas embodied in the female member of the coupling with which a malemember 3 of any suitable or usual construction is to be coupled. Saidmale member is shown as having the GXtGIlOIlYSCIGW-thlfifided portion 4which is'adapted to fit into the female member. I

In the embodiment of the invention herein shown this female member isprovided with the body which is formed with a plurality of radialrecesses 6. 1

Situated within each recess is a pivoted or swinging jaw 7 whichv isarranged to engage the screw-threaded portion 4 of the male LING memberwhen the parts are coupled to- A gether. These jaws 7 are ivoted attheir outerends to the body, an the axes of the ivots are situated backfrom the exposed aces .8 of the jaws. Said jaws may be pivoted to thebody in any suitable way, and I I have herein shown each jaw as mountedon a ivotal pin 9 which is secured 1n the body. or convenience in makingandassemblmg the parts, the body may be madr'sintwo sections, an innersection 5 WhlCll has the recesses 6 therein and which is seen in Fig. 3,and an outer section 15 which is adapted to be screw-threaded onto theinner section from .-the outer end thereof and which encircles andcovers the recesses and jaws. The recesses 6 are preferably cut clearthrough the wall of the inner section andare also open at the end ofsaid well, and said inner section is cut away at 10-between each twoadjacent recesses thereby to form the flanges 11 in which the pins 9 maybe sustained. The ins can be easily inserted into these flanges iiromthe recesses 10 as will be obvious, body are screwed together, the outersection covers com letely the recesses 6 and the jaws 7, and the ange 16of the outer section overlies, the end fa e of, the inner section.

.The jaws 7 are referably backed by suitii tend to swing them inwardly,and while a spring of any suitable construction may be employed, I haveherein shown springs 12 of the orm shown in Fig. 6.

These springs are receivedljin a groove 14v When the two sections of theformed in the inner section 5. and are su ported on pins 13 which areinserted into t e apertures formed in said section. 'The plainly seeneach jaw has the en ends of the springs bear against the jaws 7, as

om F' 's. 2 and 4. In this way s of two springs bearing thereon. a v

Qwin to the manner of mounting the jaws v 7, twillbe apparent that asthe cou ling member 3 is moved longitudinally o the member 5 the jaws 7will swing b'ackwardly to permit the two members to be coupled together,and when the members are ll coupled, the serrated faces of said jaws wil engage the screw-threads '4. After the members are-coupled anytendency to separate the members results in causing the jaws 7 to tendto swing inwardly thereby to more firmly gri the screw-threads 4. Thisis so because t e ivotal points .9 of the jaws are situated at-t e outerends thereof and back from-theserrated faces 8.

After the members are firmly coupled any longitudinal strain tending toseparate them is, of course, transmitted to the pivoted jaws 7, and myimprovement provides a construction wherein means are rovided for takingsuch longitudinal strain rom the pintles 9.

In' the present embodiment the outer member 15 is madeuse of to take thelongi tudinal thrust from the pins 9, this being accomplished by makingthe jaws of such a length that when the outer section 15 is in from thedrawing place, the ends 17 of the jaws 7 are in engagement with theflange 16, and by giving said ends 17 such a shape that this engagementis maintained in all positions of the jaws.. The result of thisconstructionis that any longitudinal thrust or strain to which the jaws7 are subjected is transmitted directly to the 'flan e 16 of theoutersection 15 and thusthe pint es 9 are relieved from strain. The ends 17of said jaws are shaped so as to limit the inward. swinging movementthereof, said 'aws beings own'swung inwardly to their imit in Fig. 1.Said jaws however can freely swing outwardly as will beobvious s. e Inorder to ma e the coupling a dust proof one the recesses 6 are of ashape to fit the.

. jaws 7, and the inner ends 18 of said recesses are curved to fit thecurved inner ends'of the jaws. This makes a construction which excludesthe dust and dirt from the recesses '65 When the mem 1 of my inventionbut have merely .jected.

tightened as usual by turning the members slightly relative to eachother. The coupling member is shown as rovided withthe usual asket 21-against w 'ch the end of the screw-t eaded portion 4 seats.

Said coupling member is also provided with the .usua turned when it isto be tlghtened onto anprojections 30 by which it may be.

other coupling or unscrewed therefrom.

These projections 30 may be formed on either the inner section 5 or theouter section 15. They are herein shown as being formed on the innersection 5.

I have not shown illustrated referred embodiment. aving fully describedmy invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. A coupling member comprising a body the . 86 herein all embodimentsprovided with a series of comparatively narrow recesses spaced about thesame, and jaws pivoted at their outer ends in said recesses, said jawshaving exposed side faces shaped to constitute sections of a cylindricalscrew-threaded surface.

2. A coupling member comprising a body provided with recesses, jawsextending longitudinally of the body and pivoted at their outer ends insaid recesses, said jaws having exposed side faces shaped to constitutesections of a screw-thread, and an abutment surface to enga e the endsof the jaws to take the longitudina thrust towhich the jaws aresubjected.

3. A coupling member comprising a body rovided w1th recesses and jawsexten ongitudinally of the body and pivoted at their ends in saidrecesses, the mner side faces of said jaws being shaped to constitutesections of a screw-thread integral with said jaws, and the pivotaloints of the jaws being situated in a circle 0 larger diameter than thescrew-threaded faces, and means other than the plimots of the jaws totake the 10 tudinal t 4. A coupling member (presenting a body portionprovided with ra pivoted in said recesses to swing r adially about axestransverse to the axis of said coupling merpcber, said jaws havingexposed faces shaped constitute sections of a screw thread, and athrustmember associated'with the body member and adapted to engage the jawsand take longitudinal thrust from the pivots thereof.

' 5. A coupling member comprising an inner st to which the jaws are su120. al recesses, aws

threaded to the inner section from the outer end thereof and when inplace covering said slots.

. 6., A coupling membercomprising an inner section having a series ofcomparatlvely narrow radially arranged slots extending through the wallsthereof at one end, a plurality of ja'ws mounted in said slots,- saidjaws being pivoted at the outer ends of the slots, and an outer sectionscrew-threaded to the inner section and covering the ends andoutersides'of the slots. 1

7. A coupling member comprising an inner section having a series of com'arativelynarrow recesses formed in the wa thereof, said recesses, beingopen at the end of said sec tion, receding jaws mounted in saidrecesses, and anouter section screw-threaded on the inner sectionandoverlying the end thereof.

8. A coupling member comprising an in-- ner section having a series ofcom aratively narrow recesses formed in the wa thereof, said recessesbeing open atthe end of said section, receding jaws mounted in saidrecesses, and an outer section, screw-threaded on the inner section andoverlying the end and theside thereof and covering the recesses. k

9. In a coupling member, the combination with an inner section having aplurality of recesses open at the end thereof, aws mounted in saidrecesses, said jaws having their exposedfaces shaped to constitutesections of'a screw-thread, andan outer section detachable from theinner section and overly- ..ing the end thereof, said outer section whenin position engaging the jaws and being adapted to take the longitudinalthrust to which the jaws are subjected.

. 10. In a coupling member, the combina- I tion with an inner sectionhaving a plurality cesses and of recesses open at the end thereof, ofjaws pivoted 1n saidrecesses attheir outer ends, said jaws having theirexposed faces shaped to constitute sections of a screw-thread, and anoutersection detachably secured to the inner section and overlying theend thereof, said outer section being arranged to take the longitudinalthrust to which the jaws are subjected.

11. A- coupling member comprising an inner section provided with aplurality of reavmg a peripheral spring-respring receiving groove, aplurality of recedin jaws mounted in said recesses, and a plura 'ty ofsprings situated in said groove, each spring being situated between twoadjacent jaws and acting on each of said jaws,

and an outer member detachably secured to the inner member and coveringsaid groove and jaws.

13. A coupling member comprising an inner section provided with alurality of recesses and also provided wit a peripheral spring receivinggroove, a plurality of receding jaws mounted in said recesses, aplurality of springs in said groove, each spring being situated. betweentwo adjacent jaws and being secured centrally thereof to saidinner'member whereby the ends of the spring act on both of said adjacentjaws and an outer member detachably secured to the inner member andcovering said groove and aws. j I J 14. A cou ling member comprising abody provided wit recesses, jaws pivoted at their outer ends in saidrecesses, each jaw having its side face exposed and shaped to form asection of a screw-thread, and the outer end of each jaw being shaped toengage the end wall of the recess when the jaw swings inwardly, therebyto limit the inward swinging movement thereof.

15. A coupling member comprising an inner section provided with recessesopen at the end of said section, jaws pivoted at their outer ends insaid recesses, each jaw having its side face exposed and sha ed to forma section of a screw-thread, an an outer section detachable from theinner section and provided with a flange to overlie the end of the innersection and form the end wall of said recesses, the outer ends of thejaws being shaped to engage said flange when the jaws swinginwardly,'thereby to limit the inward swinging movement thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAMS. REED. Witnesses: LOUIS 0. SMITH,

. MARGARET A. DUNN.

